A U.S. federal court has rejected a request to delay the cancellation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for thousands of Afghan nationals living in the United States. This means that starting July 14, 2025, many Afghans may lose their work permits and face deportation.

The decision was made by Judge Theodore Chuang from the U.S. District Court in Maryland on July 10. He said that even though the legal case is still going on, Afghan TPS holders will not be allowed to keep their legal rights during this time.

This ruling affects about 11,700 Afghan migrants in the U.S. They were granted TPS after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, making it unsafe for them to return.

Immigrant rights groups challenged the government's decision in court. They argue that ending TPS for Afghans is unfair and politically motivated. They say the government is ignoring the serious human rights problems in Afghanistan, especially for vulnerable groups.

Human rights defenders warn that sending Afghans-especially women and girls-back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is dangerous. Under Taliban rule, women have little access to education, jobs, or basic freedoms.

Reports by Human Rights Watch and the UN show that the Taliban's treatment of women is so extreme that it amounts to“gender apartheid.” The situation in the country remains dangerous, with violence and oppression continuing.

Because of these risks, legal and human rights groups are urging the U.S. government and Congress to act quickly. They recommend extending humanitarian support or passing laws like the Afghan Adjustment Act to protect Afghan migrants. Without action, deported Afghans could face serious harm.

MENAFN12072025000228011069ID1109791133